U.S. patent application number 12/135203 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for bicycle head set and bush thereof.
Invention is credited to Wen-Feng Tsai.
Application Number | 20090302568 12/135203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41399612 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090302568 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsai; Wen-Feng |
December 10, 2009 |
BICYCLE HEAD SET AND BUSH THEREOF
Abstract
A bicycle head set includes a first ring having an outer
periphery secured to an inner periphery of a head tube of the
bicycle. A bush is rotatably and horizontally mounted within the
first ring. The bush has a ring structure with an outer annular
side and an inner annular side, wherein at least one of the outer
annular side and the inner annular side has a self-lubricating
layer applied thereon for use as a rotating medium of the head set.
A buckling ring is mounted to the bush. The buckling ring has an
inner resisting surface securely surround a steering tube of the
bicycle and an outer contact surface contacting with the inner
annular side of the bush.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Wen-Feng; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Chien-Hui Su
P. O. Box 70-121 Taichung
Taichung City
40899
TW
|
Family ID: |
41399612 |
Appl. No.: |
12/135203 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/279 ;
16/2.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62K 21/06 20130101;
Y10T 16/05 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/279 ;
16/2.1 |
International
Class: |
B62K 21/06 20060101
B62K021/06; F16L 5/00 20060101 F16L005/00 |
Claims
1. A bush for a bicycle head set, comprising a ring structure with
an outer annular side and an inner annular side, wherein at least
one of the outer annular side and the inner annular side has a
self-lubricating layer applied thereon for use as a rotating medium
of the head set.
2. The bush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating
layer is applied on the inner annular side.
3. The bush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the self-lubricating
layer is applied on the outer annular side.
4. The bush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush has a tapered
cross-section.
5. The bush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush has a curved
cross-section.
6. The bush as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bush has a stepped
cross-section.
7. The bush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bush has a tapered
cross-section.
8. The bush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bush has a curved
cross-section.
9. The bush as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bush has a stepped
cross-section.
10. The bush as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bush has a tapered
cross-section.
11. The bush as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bush has a curved
cross-section.
12. The bush as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bush has a stepped
cross-section.
13. A bicycle head set comprising: a first ring having an outer
periphery adapted to be secured to an inner periphery of a head
tube of the bicycle; a bush rotatably and horizontally mounted
within the first ring, the bush having a ring structure with an
outer annular side and an inner annular side, wherein at least one
of the outer annular side and the inner annular side has a
self-lubricating layer applied thereon for use as a rotating medium
of the head set; and a buckling ring mounted to the bush, the
buckling ring having an inner resisting surface adapted to securely
surround a steering tube of the bicycle and an outer contact
surface contacting with the inner annular side of the bush.
14. The bicycle head set as claimed in claim 13 further comprising
a second ring rotatably mounted to a top of the first ring for
holding the bush and the buckling ring in place and a washer
sandwiched between the first ring and the second ring for
water-proof and anti-dust.
15. The bicycle head set as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second
ring has a skirt extending from an outer periphery of the second
ring for surrounding the top portion of the first ring.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a bicycle head set, and
more particularly to a bicycle head set that uses a bush to replace
the conventional bearing.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional steering bearing assembly for bicycle in
accordance with the prior art approximately comprises a head tube
and a steering tube assembled through an upper bearing assembly and
a lower bearing assembly respectively. The upper bearing assembly
and the lower bearing assembly tightly resists against the bicycle
head tube through a race. The connection of the upper bearing
assembly, the lower bearing assembly and the steering tube is
through the gripping by an annular compression ring. For the
purpose of the axial rotation between the head tube and the
steering tube through the upper bearing assembly and the lower
bearing assembly, there are rollers arranged between the upper
bearing assembly, the lower bearing assembly and the race.
[0005] The conventional bearing assemblies can provide and axial
rotation of the bicycle head tube and the steering tube, but it is
not a good solution for lightening of a bicycle because of the
medium of the rollers. Another prior medium of the axial rotation
is a bearing. The bearing seems like a one-piece round ring, but it
is assembled by rollers between two round rings for performing the
axial rotation. Thus, the bearing of the rotation medium is also
not beneficial for the lightening of a bicycle.
[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the disadvantages of the conventional steering bearing
assemblies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide an
improved bicycle head set and bush thereof, wherein the bush has a
self-lubricating layer adhered thereon for replacing the
conventional rollers and bearings in the bicycle head set.
[0008] To achieve the objective, the bicycle head set in accordance
with the present invention comprises a first ring having an outer
periphery secured to an inner periphery of a head tube of the
bicycle. A bush is rotatably and horizontally mounted within the
first ring. The bush has a ring structure with an outer annular
side and an inner annular side, wherein at least one of the outer
annular side and the inner annular side has a self-lubricating
layer applied thereon for use as a rotating medium of the head set.
A buckling ring is mounted to the bush. The buckling ring has an
inner resisting surface securely surround a steering tube of the
bicycle and an outer contact surface contacting with the inner
annular side of the bush.
[0009] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bicycle head set
in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a second ring of the
bicycle head set on the present invention along line 2A-2A in FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of a buckling ring of the
bicycle head set of the present invention along line 2B-2B in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of a bush of the bicycle
head set of the present invention along line 2C-2C in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of a first ring of the
bicycle head set of the present invention along line 2D-2D in FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the bicycle head set in
accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the bicycle head set in
accordance with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of
the bush of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of
the bush of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of
the bush of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a fifth embodiment of
the bush of the present invention; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth embodiment of
the bush of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-3, a head
set in accordance with the present invention comprises a first ring
(1), a bush (4), a buckling ring (3) and a second ring (2)
sequentially concentrically mounted to one another.
[0023] The first ring (1) has an inner side (11) that is curved or
slanted. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
interior side (11) of the first ring (1) is slanted. The first ring
(1) includes an outer periphery adapted to be secured to an inner
periphery of a head tube of the bicycle.
[0024] The bush (4) is rotatably and horizontally mounted within
the first ring (1). The bush (4) includes an outer annular side
(41) and an inner annular side (42) respectively formed thereon. A
self-lubricating layer (5) is adhered to the outer annular side
(41). The self-lubricating layer (5) is made of macromolecule
material, such as polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE). The
self-lubricating layer (5) slidably abuts against the inner side
(11).
[0025] The buckling ring (3) is mounted to the bush (4). The
buckling ring (3) has an inner resisting surface (31) adapted to
securely surround a steering tube of the bicycle and an outer
contact surface (32) contacting with the inner annular side (42) of
the bush (4). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the buckling ring (3) is a C-shaped ring.
[0026] The second ring (2) is rotatably mounted to a top of the
first ring (1) for holding the bush (4) and the buckling ring (3)
in place. A washer (21) is sandwiched between the first ring (1)
and the second ring (2) for water-proof and anti-dust. The second
ring (2) has a skirt (22) extending from an outer periphery of the
second ring (2) for surrounding the top portion of the first ring
(1).
[0027] The contract portions of the outer annular side (41) of the
bush (4) and the inner side (11) of the first ring (1) are
respectively formed with an inclined surface. In addition, the
contract portions of the inner annular side (42) of the bush (4)
and the contract surface (32) of the buckling ring (3) are
respectively formed with an inclined surface. As a result, the
contract areas between the bush (4) and the first ring (1), and
between the bush (4) and the buckling ring (3) are enlarged.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 4, for assembling the head set in
accordance with the present invention, the buckling ring (3) is
adapted to be securely surrounded the steering tube of the bicycle
and the first ring (1) is adapted to be securely resisting with the
inner periphery of the head tube of the bicycle such that the
buckling ring (3), and the self-lubricating layer (5) between the
first ring (1) and the bush (4) are used as rotation medium between
the head tube and the steering tube of the bicycle due to the
material characteristic of the self-lubricating layer (5).
[0029] With reference to FIG. 5 that shows a second embodiment of
the bush (4a) in accordance with the present invention, the bush
(4a) in accordance with the present invention has a ring structure
and a self-lubricating layer (5) applied to an inner annular side
(42a) thereof. In addition, the buckling ring (3) is securely
surrounding the steering tube of the bicycle such that the
self-lubricating layer (5) is used as a bearing or rollers, in a
conventional head set, for providing a smooth operation.
[0030] In addition, as shown in FIG. 6 that shows a third
embodiment of the bush (4b) in accordance with the present
invention, the outer annular side (41b) and the inner annular side
(42b) of the bush (4b) respectively have a self-lubricating layer
(5) applied thereon for providing a smooth operation to the head
set of the bicycle.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 7 that shows a fourth embodiment of the
bush (4c) in accordance with the present invention, in this
embodiment, the bush (4c) has a tapered cross-section.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 8 that shows a fifth embodiment of the bush
(4d) in accordance with the present invention, in this embodiment,
the bush (4d) has a curved cross-section.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 9 that shows a fifth embodiment of the bush
(4e) in accordance with the present invention, in this embodiment,
the bush (4e) has a stepped cross-section.
[0034] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other
possible modifications and variations can be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
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